Six

Summary

• The author reflects on the usual disappointment of a book launch, citing lack of immediate feedback, slow sales, and inevitable comparison with other authors as major factors.
• However, this particular launch was different from her previous experiences and she felt more anticipation and excitement, receiving a crate of champagne from Eden and a note of congratulations from Daniella.
• On social media, she received a positive response with thousands of likes within an hour and tags from readers showing the book in various stores, as well as positive reviews. Though social media is not an accurate reflection of book sales, she felt the attention must signal some level of success.
• Her book received high-profile reviews from NPR, the New York Times, and Washington Post, and she contemplated if a book's success is determined by some obscure collective decision that it will be the "title of the moment".
• She had her launch event at a prestigious book store, Politics and Prose. Despite her previous disappointing book tours, this one was packed with people showing interest in her book.
• She was so nervous seeing so many people present but managed to handle her reading efficiently, feeling a sense of command over the room. She acknowledged her good performance during the Q&A and enjoyed the positive engagement from the audience.
• While enjoying her successful launch, she sees Athena, her friend, in the front row which greatly shocks her, making her stumble through the rest of the Q&A and lose her hold on the audience. She managed to finish the event but suffered a panic attack afterwards.
• The bookstore staff sensed something was wrong and hurried the end of the event. She was taken home and curled into bed after her launch.
• The chapter ends with her checking Twitter for any mentions of Athena at her event, but found nothing. The only mention of Athena was from a random audience member implying that her spirit had been present, illustrating the impact her memory has on the author's work.